FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Theresa O’Neal
Bee Season Consulting LLC
Email: [email protected]
917-445-7495
Iris House to Celebrate 25th Anniversary With New Orleans Style Masquerade Ball on October 10th
Honoring
Marc Meachem, ViiV Healthcare
Sukey Wagner, Iris House Founding Board Member
Johanne Morne, New York State AIDS Institute
New York, NY, September 24, 2018 –After 25 years of serving women and families affected by HIV/AIDS, Iris House is proud to announce an evening of celebration scheduled for October 10, 2018. A festive, New Orleans style Masquerade Ball will take place at Stage 48, located at 605 West 48th Street, New York, New York from 6:30 to 10:30 pm .
This year’s event will honor Mark Meachem, Sukey Wagner and Johanne Morne for their outstanding work on the frontlines fighting HIV/AIDS. The evening will feature live music by the Karl Browne Band, dancing, passed hors d’oeuvres, specialty cocktails, silent auctions and more. Guests are highly encouraged to wear masks. Tickets are available for purchase via www.irishouse.org.
Over the last two and a half decades, Iris House has helped to save lives through comprehensive support, prevention and education services for women, families and underserved populations affected by HIV/AIDS and other health disparities. The agency has offered a safe, family-centered environment by passionate, professional and culturally competent staff. Iris House was named for early HIV Activist Iris De La Cruz, whose passion for the cause was instrumental in establishing its programs.
To fulfill its mission, Iris House offers practical, family-centered services that promote prevention and education while addressing the day-to-day realities of living with HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, depression and other health disparities plaguing today’s communities.
“We are truly thankful to all of our honorees, partners and donors who have supported Iris House as we work to end the AIDS epidemic in New York and New Jersey. While rates citywide dropped to a record low the latest available surveillance data shows that rates among women went up by 5%. There is still work to be done and this event will help to celebrate how far we have come and recognize how far we still have to go.” stated Executive Director Ingrid N. Floyd.
Special thanks to Host Committee members Naima Walker Fierce (co-chair), Debra Fraser-Howze (co-chair), Tania Barnett, Ofelia Barrios, Nick Charles, Kevin China, Nicholas J. DiCeglie, Ingrid N. Floyd, Vanessa Johnson, Theresa Mack, M.D., Tracey Mendelsohn, Nina Savransky, Camille N. Sealy, Cynthia Taylor, Susan Wolfson and Rodney Wright, M.D. for all of their efforts to raise funds and awareness for Iris House.
About the Honorees
Marc Meachem is Head of External Affairs, ViiV Healthcare North America. A skilled advocate, strategist, and valued member of the HIV community, Meachem has been part of the fight against HIV/AIDS for nearly a decade. He is dedicated to creating sustainable programs with the community, focusing on education and access to care for all people living with HIV.
As head of External Affairs for North America at ViiV Healthcare, Meachem directs all external and internal US communications and public affairs activities. He is committed to grounding the work in deep insights based on the lives of people living with and affected by HIV. He has designed and launched initiatives to address the unmet needs of disproportionately affected populations, including ViiV Healthcare's Positive Action Southern Initiative, Positive Action for Women, the ACCELERATE! Initiative, and the Youth Scholars Program with NMAC.
In 2016, Meacham was recognized as one of the “Heroes in the Struggle” by Black AIDS Institute and received the Angel Award from GMAD. He is also a member of NAESM’s Black Gay Men Hall of Fame. With more than two decades of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Meachem has held leadership roles in various therapeutic areas across commercial development, marketing, and communications. He earned a B.A. in French language and literature from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.
Johanne Morne is the Director of the New York State Health Department’s AIDS Institute. The AIDS Institute was created in 1983 to coordinate the State’s overall response to the HIV epidemic. The AIDS Institute has broadened its mission by integrating hepatitis and STD services, surveillance, opioid overdose prevention, and non-HIV LGBT services into its structure. In its more than 30-year history, the AIDS Institute has provided leadership in New York State, at the national level, and internationally. The AIDS Institute is a $500 million public health program with a staff of more than 400. Morne has been with the AIDS Institute for ten years. Prior to joining the State Health Department, Morne served as quality manager of psychiatry and HIV services at Albany Medical Center Hospital and served as the director of community-based HIV services at Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Services - a Federally Qualified Health Center. Morne’s professional and clinical experience is in public health and behavioral health, particularly within communities of color.
Sukey Wagner is a former educator and has spent much of her career doing philanthropic work with a number of organizations including schools in the Transkei, a rural district in South Africa, where she provided over 180,000 books and served on the board of the Vela School there. She has also worked with PWA (People With AIDS) in Brooklyn, New York and co-founded a center for women with HIV/AIDS in Harlem. Wagner served on the board of Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts for 10 years. She has also been involved with the World Wildlife Fund where her late husband and international banker, Rodney Wagner, served as a member and officer of the board for a number of years. Wagner sits on the board of Robert College in Istanbul, Turkey and the Colebrook Land Conservancy.
About Iris House
Iris House provides services for women, families and communities infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. In addition to providing family-center services that promote prevention, education and awareness, Iris House also offers practical services that address the day-today needs and reality of living with HIV/AIDS. Iris House provides nutritional counseling and meal programs, intensive case management, scatter site housing, mental health services and support groups and job life skills training. Since opening its doors in 1993, Iris House has assisted more than 1,800 individuals cope with HIV/AIDS and served tens of thousands in testing, outreach and prevention programs. In 2017 they served nearly 5,000 individuals.
For more information on Iris House and Iris House Programs, please contact Michael Jones, Director of Development at (646) 548-0100 ext. 222 or [email protected]. To purchase tickets, become an event sponsor or to get involved, visit www.irishouse.org.
###
Contact: Theresa O’Neal
Bee Season Consulting LLC
Email: [email protected]
917-445-7495
Iris House to Celebrate 25th Anniversary With New Orleans Style Masquerade Ball on October 10th
Honoring
Marc Meachem, ViiV Healthcare
Sukey Wagner, Iris House Founding Board Member
Johanne Morne, New York State AIDS Institute
New York, NY, September 24, 2018 –After 25 years of serving women and families affected by HIV/AIDS, Iris House is proud to announce an evening of celebration scheduled for October 10, 2018. A festive, New Orleans style Masquerade Ball will take place at Stage 48, located at 605 West 48th Street, New York, New York from 6:30 to 10:30 pm .
This year’s event will honor Mark Meachem, Sukey Wagner and Johanne Morne for their outstanding work on the frontlines fighting HIV/AIDS. The evening will feature live music by the Karl Browne Band, dancing, passed hors d’oeuvres, specialty cocktails, silent auctions and more. Guests are highly encouraged to wear masks. Tickets are available for purchase via www.irishouse.org.
Over the last two and a half decades, Iris House has helped to save lives through comprehensive support, prevention and education services for women, families and underserved populations affected by HIV/AIDS and other health disparities. The agency has offered a safe, family-centered environment by passionate, professional and culturally competent staff. Iris House was named for early HIV Activist Iris De La Cruz, whose passion for the cause was instrumental in establishing its programs.
To fulfill its mission, Iris House offers practical, family-centered services that promote prevention and education while addressing the day-to-day realities of living with HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, depression and other health disparities plaguing today’s communities.
“We are truly thankful to all of our honorees, partners and donors who have supported Iris House as we work to end the AIDS epidemic in New York and New Jersey. While rates citywide dropped to a record low the latest available surveillance data shows that rates among women went up by 5%. There is still work to be done and this event will help to celebrate how far we have come and recognize how far we still have to go.” stated Executive Director Ingrid N. Floyd.
Special thanks to Host Committee members Naima Walker Fierce (co-chair), Debra Fraser-Howze (co-chair), Tania Barnett, Ofelia Barrios, Nick Charles, Kevin China, Nicholas J. DiCeglie, Ingrid N. Floyd, Vanessa Johnson, Theresa Mack, M.D., Tracey Mendelsohn, Nina Savransky, Camille N. Sealy, Cynthia Taylor, Susan Wolfson and Rodney Wright, M.D. for all of their efforts to raise funds and awareness for Iris House.
About the Honorees
Marc Meachem is Head of External Affairs, ViiV Healthcare North America. A skilled advocate, strategist, and valued member of the HIV community, Meachem has been part of the fight against HIV/AIDS for nearly a decade. He is dedicated to creating sustainable programs with the community, focusing on education and access to care for all people living with HIV.
As head of External Affairs for North America at ViiV Healthcare, Meachem directs all external and internal US communications and public affairs activities. He is committed to grounding the work in deep insights based on the lives of people living with and affected by HIV. He has designed and launched initiatives to address the unmet needs of disproportionately affected populations, including ViiV Healthcare's Positive Action Southern Initiative, Positive Action for Women, the ACCELERATE! Initiative, and the Youth Scholars Program with NMAC.
In 2016, Meacham was recognized as one of the “Heroes in the Struggle” by Black AIDS Institute and received the Angel Award from GMAD. He is also a member of NAESM’s Black Gay Men Hall of Fame. With more than two decades of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Meachem has held leadership roles in various therapeutic areas across commercial development, marketing, and communications. He earned a B.A. in French language and literature from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.
Johanne Morne is the Director of the New York State Health Department’s AIDS Institute. The AIDS Institute was created in 1983 to coordinate the State’s overall response to the HIV epidemic. The AIDS Institute has broadened its mission by integrating hepatitis and STD services, surveillance, opioid overdose prevention, and non-HIV LGBT services into its structure. In its more than 30-year history, the AIDS Institute has provided leadership in New York State, at the national level, and internationally. The AIDS Institute is a $500 million public health program with a staff of more than 400. Morne has been with the AIDS Institute for ten years. Prior to joining the State Health Department, Morne served as quality manager of psychiatry and HIV services at Albany Medical Center Hospital and served as the director of community-based HIV services at Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Services - a Federally Qualified Health Center. Morne’s professional and clinical experience is in public health and behavioral health, particularly within communities of color.
Sukey Wagner is a former educator and has spent much of her career doing philanthropic work with a number of organizations including schools in the Transkei, a rural district in South Africa, where she provided over 180,000 books and served on the board of the Vela School there. She has also worked with PWA (People With AIDS) in Brooklyn, New York and co-founded a center for women with HIV/AIDS in Harlem. Wagner served on the board of Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts for 10 years. She has also been involved with the World Wildlife Fund where her late husband and international banker, Rodney Wagner, served as a member and officer of the board for a number of years. Wagner sits on the board of Robert College in Istanbul, Turkey and the Colebrook Land Conservancy.
About Iris House
Iris House provides services for women, families and communities infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. In addition to providing family-center services that promote prevention, education and awareness, Iris House also offers practical services that address the day-today needs and reality of living with HIV/AIDS. Iris House provides nutritional counseling and meal programs, intensive case management, scatter site housing, mental health services and support groups and job life skills training. Since opening its doors in 1993, Iris House has assisted more than 1,800 individuals cope with HIV/AIDS and served tens of thousands in testing, outreach and prevention programs. In 2017 they served nearly 5,000 individuals.
For more information on Iris House and Iris House Programs, please contact Michael Jones, Director of Development at (646) 548-0100 ext. 222 or [email protected]. To purchase tickets, become an event sponsor or to get involved, visit www.irishouse.org.
###
